Spring and summer are big months for weddings, which means brides are gearing up this time of year for the biggest day of their lives. And sometimes it seems there aren’t enough days in the week to complete every task on the Big Day To-Do List.

Starting today, we begin our bridal series, to run each Friday through March 21. Most stories will aim to give advice to the key player in all the wedding blitz: the bride.

Today, however, we’ll start with our groom. Because the road to a beautiful wedding begins with a memorable

proposal.

By Leticia Gonzales

Special to The Free Press

Worrying about whether she will say yes is stressful on its own.

Pile on the responsibility of having to choose the perfect ring and say just the right thing, then we’re headed into break-down territory. Especially if you want the proposal to be a complete surprise.

That’s how Joseph Bauer did it. He liked the idea of a surprise unveiling of the engagement ring. Although his was a success story, finding that perfect ring took some time.

“I had no idea where to start,” said Bauer of St. Paul, whose fiancée lives in Mankato. “All I knew is that I wanted to propose and that I wanted to find a ring to fit her personality.”

Like most guys, Bauer wanted a ring that was unique — one that no one else had and that would stand out from traditional engagement rings.

“I found a ring that I had never seen anything like before. The band was thick, wavy and two-toned, and there were rows of little diamonds running down the sides,” he said. “It was unique and creative, so I knew it was perfect for her.”

The proposal went down a couple of months ago on Christmas Eve at his fiancée’s parents’ house. He gave his girlfriend, Emma Baumann, a ring disguised as a Christmas gift. He waited until all of the other gifts had been exchanged to pop the question.

“I proposed in front of her family because I knew how important family was to her, and Christmas was the perfect time to do it,” he said.